For the next two months, power bait, night crawlers, shiners and wooly buggers will dominate the fishing for anglers willing to put up with frozen fingers. To find out if your favorite trout water has been stocked, call (508) 835-3607, ext. 13.

The Cape is now offering some great pre-spawning largemouth bass and yellow perch fishing, too.

In early April, our Central District will be allotted 70 broodstock salmon from the Roger Reed hatchery in Palmer. The 2-year-old salmon, averaging 18 inches in length and weighing about 2 1/2 pounds will be stocked in Webster Lake, Lake Quinsigamond, and Comet Pond.

Massachusetts hasn’t totally given up hope on restoring the Atlantic salmon. Dr. Caleb Slater announced there will be Atlantic salmon fry stocking again this spring. Volunteers can help assist MassWildlife staff in stocking one million salmon fry for the restoration program.

There are 20 dates in April to stock dozens of little Connecticut River tributaries. The salmon don’t spawn in the big river itself.

Volunteers will meet hatchery trucks at release sites. See www.masswildlife.org for the schedule and directions. Call Dr. Slater the day before at (508) 389-6311 to confirm stocking locations and times.

Steep, muddy, slippery stream banks sometimes result in volunteers getting wet, so bring along a change of clothing. Waders, hip boots or other waterproof footwear are essential. Volunteers should be in good physical condition to carry the heavy buckets of fry.

The bad news is that most of the local ice fishing is over for the year. The good news is that if Wachusett Reservoir is ice-free, it will open to fishing on April 6.

The Outer Cape Seal Symposium is being held Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chatham Community Center. The discussion will focus on the impacts of increasing seal populations on the Outer Cape, especially on fishermen, water quality and white shark presence. How many seals are enough is the question many there would like answered. Scientists, fishermen and policy makers will offer their perspectives, and the audience will have a chance to respond. Although the symposium is free, it’s limited to 150 participants. Registration is required. In interested, contact info@ccchfa.org.

An eagle pair has begun incubating their eggs at Wachusett reservoir. Another pair has been seen bringing nest material of broken branches to a huge, existing nest at Webster Lake. Sportsmen are encouraged to report eagle activity and participate in our state eagle nesting survey on April 5.

Being away for a month studying tigers in India, I missed one of my favorite events of the year: the winter GPS collaring of female bears before they leave their dens.

District staff were successful in immobilizing one 183-pound sow with two yearlings. Her collar was changed — an annual necessity — and her 88-pound yearling male cub was ear-tagged. Only females provide the value of GPS collaring, hardly an inexpensive operation.

A second den was reported by a landowner affording the opportunity to collar a previously unknown 193-pound sow and her yearlings. Her den was dug under a large stump, its opening completely covered by snow. She was well-insulated. Two of her male yearling cubs were also ear tagged. A third ran off. Triplet bear cubs are common. Much of what we know about bears spreading through Worcester County is coming from this research.

Bear project leader Laura Conlee has been working to put GPS collars on female bears in our Central District. Critical to the study are the reports of denning bears on private properties.

Please call (5080 835-3607 if you suspect a den on your property.

Local bobcat sightings used to be rare. The cats are prominently making a comeback, often alarming those unfamiliar with them. One was recently seen visiting backyards in the Rutland/Paxton area. Those who let their housecats out or have chickens wandering about may have reason to worry. But otherwise an encounter with the cat should be considered reason to celebrate. … Adult women wanting to learn how to hunt turkeys with experts in the Becoming an Outdoor Woman program must register by April 26 at

CDL A DELIVERY DRIVERS Home Every Night! Needed for our Worcester Depot! Drive local - No more spending valuable nights away from your family! As a Direct Store Delivery Representative YOU have the opportunity to make a difference with our customers! Provide excellent customer service; interact in a positive manner with our customers; deliver our products to local stores. Be home every night! Work for a Company that has been around for over 80 years! Minimum of 3 months driving experience with CDL A/B; GED or HS diploma required; Must be able to drive a standard transmission. EEO/Veteran/Disability Growing Strong Since1933!